Columbaria Tower

Cultural & Public

Columbaria Tower

Cultural & Public

Columbaria Tower

Cultural & Public

Columbaria Tower

Cultural & Public

Columbaria Tower

Cultural & Public

Columbaria Tower

KIRK’s design for this inner-city high rise Columbaria building responds to the difficult site conditions, spiritual and religious needs and range of usage modes to make a memorial facility both monumental and sublime.

LocationCheras, Kuala Lumpur

ClientEternity Columbarium Sdn Bhd

StatusPlanning Approval

Gross Floor Area22,000 m²

Context

The proposed building will consist of columbaria, ceremonial and ancillary facilities and is located on a difficult infill site 6 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur city centre. The site is bound by a petrol station, cemetery and main arterial road with elevated MRT line where upper levels will command expansive views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline.

Concept

The memorable fine screened façade not only protects the building, it is a grand gesture for the function of the building that is sensitive to Malaysia’s cultural and religious pluralities. As the sun moves it will transform during the day alluding to the process of life and take on a shimmering, ephemeral quality at night that alludes to the infiniteness of creation.

Sustainability

The intended 100 lifespan of the building and intermittent mode of occupation requires a rigorous approach to reduce long terms operational and maintenance costs.

The sustainability strategy learns from the new benchmarks in tropical architecture developed at The Arc NTU in Singapore.

As a permeable and open building, inurnment and festival spaces are designed to provide adequate comfort under natural light and ventilation, complimented by mix mode and active cooling where the building program specifically requires.

Construction methodology, detailing and material resilience is being holistically considered with low maintenance and durable materials specified throughout to ensure the building has a resilience befitting of its use.